Journal of Agriculture and Food Science

Soil water-stable aggregate is a key indicator of soil structural integrity. However, little is known about the impacts of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization rates on it in the Hetao Irrigation District. In this study, a split plot experimental design with two factors (irrigation and nitrogen fertilization rate) and three replicates was built on the sunflower land in the Hetao Irrigation District. Main treatment was the irrigation rate, which includes three levels: I1, I2, and I3 (5110, 4050, and 2985 m3/ha). The sub-treatment was the nitrogen fertilization rate, which has four levels: N1, N2, N3, and N0 (750, 600, 450, and 0 kg/ha). The results indicated that applying nitrogen fertilizer could increase the soil electrical conductivity value of the 0~30 cm soil layer. The application of nitrogen fertilizer could maximize the content of water-stable aggregates at the N2. The interaction between irrigation rate and nitrogen fertilization rate had a significant influence on soil electrical conductivity and soil water-stable aggregate. Under a high irrigation rate, nitrogen fertilization rate significantly increased soil water-stable aggregate. At a medium irrigation rate, the content of water-stable aggregates in soil with medium nitrogen fertilization rate was the highest.

Irrigation rate; Nitrogen fertilization rate; Soil water-stable aggregate; pH; Soil electrical conductivity; Hetao Irrigation District